Jake Locker Syndrome: 25 Football Players Who Stayed in School Too Long

Jake Locker was a Heisman Trophy candidate coming into this year. Buffalo Bills fans were expecting to take him with the first overall pick in this spring's NFL draft.

Locker has had an awful year for Washington. The Huskies are 3-5 and it killed any chance of a Heisman Trophy and he hasn't had anywhere near the year people thought he was going to have. They aren't terrible numbers, but they aren't top-pick numbers either.

With that in mind, here are 25 players who stayed a year too long in the college game when they should have headed right to the pros.

No. 25: James Laurinaitis

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James Laurinaitis was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in his junior year but came back for one more with Ohio State.

Laurinaitis had the best year of his career, but just didn't pick up in the draft. If I were him, I would have struck while the iron was hot and left after my junior year. You can't always blame a kid for wanting one more year in college.

I still think he would have gone a little higher than the early second round after his junior year.

No. 24: James Rodgers

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After a year in which he had over a 1,000 yards receiving out of the backfield to go with nine touchdowns through the air, Rodgers returned for his senior year.

He was teaming up with his brother in the Oregon State backfield except Rodgers suffered a season-ending knee injury. You have to wonder how that's going to impact his draft stock now that he's not putting up stats.

No. 23: Brian Robiskie

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A year after heading to the national championship game with Ohio State, Brian Robiskie returned for his senior season.

His numbers dropped as he dealt with Terrelle Pryor and his unpolished skills and he ended up going in the second round of the draft to Cleveland. Robiskie wouldn't have been a high draft pick, but his stock did take a bit of a hit.

No. 22: Paul Posluszny

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Paul Posluszny had a big-time junior year at Penn State as a linebacker but then was injured in the Orange Bowl against Florida State.

Posluzsny rehabbed the knee and returned for his senior season and played well but if Willis McGahee can get drafted on one knee, so could have Posluzsny. He's been a solid player for the Bills but has struggled with injury issues.

No. 21: Brandon Spikes

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Brandon Spikes was part of a national championship team and was a big part of Florida's success that year.

Spikes returned and saw his production drop and was suspended a game for an incident in which he gouged someone's eyes during a play. He ended up being picked late in the second round by the New England Patriots.

No. 20: Charles Scott

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In his junior year, Charles Scott led the SEC in rushing touchdowns and decided to come back for his senior year.

He ended up fracturing his clavicle and missing the rest of the season in a game against Alabama. Scott was drafted in the sixth round and has bounced around the league. He now is on the New York Giants.

No. 4: Tim Tebow

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Tim Tebow had a lot of talk surrounding his decision on if he was going to go pro after his junior year at Florida.

Tebow decided to stay a Gator and fell short of getting back to a national championship game, but Tebow was taken in the first round by the Broncos, a move that was questioned because he was expected to fall out of that slot.

If he was taken then after his senior year, imagine how well he'd have done in the draft if he left after his junior year?

No. 1: Matt Leinart

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Matt Leinart had every reason in the world to leave USC after his junior year. However, Leinart returned to USC to try and win another national championship.

Leinart ended up losing to Vince Young, who hopped over Leinart on the draft board and was taken third overall by the Tennessee Titans. Leinart ended up taken 10th by the Cardinals and he never turned into a pro prospect.

He's now a backup in Houston and I bet he wishes he took the money when he had the chance.